The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-27
COMING BASEBALL SEASON.
President Young, of the League, Talks
of the Prospects for Sport.
He Anticipates the Most Interesting Series of
Games Known in Baseball History-Lat-
est About the indianapolis Club.

WASHINGTON. March 26.-N. E. Young, presi-
dent Of the National League Of baseball clubs,
was interviewed by an Associated Press report
er to-day on the outlook for the approaching
campaign. This season, Mr. Young thinks, will
doubtless be the most interesting one since the
formation of the League. in 1876 He assigns
for this belief various reasons. First, the clubs
of the parent organization are more equal in
playing strength than they nave ever been be-
fore. Second. almost every team has secured
at least three or four young and ambitious
players, who have made good records in the
minor associations, but whose ability in the
League is problematical, and therefore of an I'M
known quantity. Third, the new rules adopted
by the League at its fall meeting are so radical,
not to say revolutionary, that their effects on
the various players will be the subject of much
speculation and comment as to which players
will be benefited by them and whom they will
most seriously injure. The batting this
season, he says, will be much harder and more
long hits will be recorded than since the print
tive days of straight pitching; and while this
will naturally tend to make the contests more
interesting and exciting to the spectators it will
also prolong the games very considerably. The
very tiresome pitcher and catcher" games,
which occurred too frequently last season, will
not be in order this year. It was principally for
this reason, he says, that the rules were amend
ed, and many restrictions placed upon the
pitchers A game under the new rules Mr..
Young contends in which pitcher can hold an
opposing team down to five base-hits will be as
rare and considered as marvellous this season as
one in which pitcher retired an opposite team
with one base-hit last season.
''Do you anticipate any trouble with the new
rules2" asked the reporter.
II do not. These rules were not formulated
until they were thoroughly discussed in all their
bearings by the managers and the most promi-
ment players in the profession. OF course they
will be experimental to certain extent, but
they are, in many respects, superior to the old
rules, and will conduce very materially to make
the contests more exciting and attractive. 1t.
however, after satisfactory trial, they should
prove a failure-wnich I do not expect-they
can be easily changed by a special meeting of
the League committee. which has full power to
make whatever changes may be deemed expe-
dent"
Mr. Young declined to express an opinion as
to which club would win the championship pen
ant, on the ground that his position was a neu-
trail one. and should he put himself on record as
an advocate of certain club, it might create
dissatisfaction. The Washington club, he says,
ter months than any other League club, and he
expects to see it make good record this season.
Mr.. Young has received and approved the follow
ing contracts with players:
With Washineton-Fred L. Shaw. VIM. O'Brien
and J. B. Donnelly.
With New York-M. c. Dorgan and William
Brown.
With St. Louis-D. L. Foutz and R. @. caruthers
With Indianapoiis-Jerry Denny and P. Cahill.
The Philadelphia club has notified Mr. Young
of the release by that club of j. Murphy and j.
E. Dallas. The Kansas City club has been ad
mitted to membership in the Western League.